Canberra Raiders 2012 Season Review

Canberra Raiders fans will reflect upon the 2012 season with a sense of what might have been.

After a horribly slow start that almost saw David Furner lose his job after a 40-0 flogging at the hands of the Wests Tigers, the Raiders clicked into gear to storm into sixth place and defeat the Cronulla Sharks in the first week of the finals, before a sell out home crowd. The Rabbitohs put paid to the Raiders premiership ambitions the following week but the bitter taste of defeat should be the thing that spurs the Raiders to bigger and better things in 2013. The inexperience of the Raiders should now give way to confidence and a self belief that the Raiders can easily mix it with the best, beating the premiers 40-12 and the grand finalists 34-6. Both wins were by 28 points and if the Raiders can stay injury free, they will be a force in 2013.

The 2012 season will be remembered for the Raiders late season charge and the ire of the fans during the Raiders horror form slump. Injuries played their part but in some matches, the Raiders simply gave up. Fans were livid, this one included as we knew the Raiders were capable of better results as they were beating themselves before they set foot on the paddock.

At one stage the Raiders were right in the mix for the wooden spoon and many believed they had it in their grasp but not for the Parramatta Eels. Yes, it is the odd year when the Raiders miss the finals but I believe they will break that hoodoo in 2013. If not, Furner